The high-profile Wavebreak Island bid was backed by the ASF Consortia, but rejected by the incoming Labor Government.

​In August 2015, however, they were granted the right by the Labor goverment to develop a $2 billiion casino on land just to the south of SeaWorld Nara resort on the opposite side of the Southport Spit.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says a Brisbane cruise ship terminal would not mean the end of his dream of having one built on the Gold Coast.

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That is opposite Cr Tate's preferred location for his new cruise ship terminal.

Cr Tate said he was "very close" to making the announcement, which was being scrutinised voluntarily by four engineers experienced in cruise and recreational ship terminals.

Cr Tate said he needed enough time to present it to "both sides" of politics and to the people of the Gold Coast.

He said he was still flexible on the location, but was concentrating on an ocean-side terminal on the southern edge of the Southport Spit.

Cr Tate's preferred site will be opposed by the Save our Spit conservation group.

"I'm flexible, but I would like to see it on the ocean-side, opposite Sea World Nara," Cr Tate said.

"So you don't have to go all the way to the end of the Spit, which saves you all the infrastructure cost," he said.

Cr Tate said choosing that location would keep the cruise ship terminal close to the Sheraton Hotel on the Southport Spit.

However he said that was one option only.

"I'm not saying that is set in stone. I'm still waiting for evaluation. But that would mean the cruise ship would not have to come into the Broadwater," he said.

Cr Tate said it was too early to provide more details at this stage, but said an ocean-side terminal reduced environmental issues with the Southport Broadwater.

Cr Tate said he would respect the wishes of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk not to have a terminal inside the Southport Broadwater.

Meanwhile Brisbane's push for a cruise ship terminal would not frustrate the Gold Coast's push for a new cruise ship terminal, Cr Tate said.

"No, I have spoken with Ann Sherry (Carnival Cruises chief executive) a couple of years ago and her comment to me was that it was possible to have a cruise ship terminal on the Gold Coast and at Brisbane," Cr Tate said.

He said Ms Sherry told him it added very little extra fuel (costs) and cruise lines could offer two "visitations".

"So it was a good business plan to visit both. It would absolutely create a critical mass.

"The people will book because it is effectively two for the price of one, they will think they can get to see the Gold Coast as well as Brisbane.

"And from a marketing sense it makes good sense."

Ms Sherry last week in a media statement praised the Port of Brisbane bid, but did not refer to a second bid on the Gold Coast.

Fairfax Media understands a Gold Coast cruise ship terminal would be a short stop or "transit" port – similar to Mooloolaba - while Brisbane would be the longer stay "turnaround" port where passengers could start and finish a cruise and ships would re-fuel and undergo maintenance.